Terry.Dickson@jacksonville.com - 2/12/14 - Michelle Nunn, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Georgia, spoke with about 60 supporters Wednesday morning at Brunswick's old city hall. (Florida Times-Union, Terry Dickson)

BRUNSWICK, GA. | U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Nunn, the main hope for a Democratic resurgence in Georgia, came to longtime Republican stronghold Glynn County Wednesday to meet with supporters.

The daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn, Michelle Nunn met with about 60 supporters at Brunswick’s old city hall for a breakfast meet-and-greet.

She should have no problem with name recognition. Her father, who once chaired the Senate Armed Forces Committee, staked out positions popular in Georgia when its voting base was solidly conservative Democrats.

She is no stranger to the area: Her family has been coming to the Golden Isles for years and her father has owned a home on St. Simons Island for years. She spoke about her values and why she wants to go to Washington to fix a system that has become dysfunctional.

She also told the crowd “how we’re going to win.”

As former head of the Hands on Atlanta volunteer organization, Nunn said she had worked with former President George H.W. Bush’s Points of Light foundation to solve problems.

“I’ve seen what happens when people roll up their sleeves and work together,” she said.

She quoted former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates who said that the greatest threat to America does not come from Iran or other enemies abroad.

“It’s the protracted dysfunction in Washington,” she said quoting Gates.

When she asked the crowed what they deemed the biggest challenges, they answered jobs first and then education.

Nunn explained her plans for both, but also said that she is concerned about the nation’s debt.

“Within the next 20 years, 17 percent” of the federal budget will go to pay the interest on that debt, and that has to be corrected, she said.

St. Simons Island resident Karen Brown said she liked what she heard.

“Can she win? I think she has a good start engaging people in the country and expressing her platform,” Brown said.

“Somebody has to go to Washington to fix the gridlock,” and Nunn can help with the process, Brown said.

Linda Muir called Nunn a common sense person who can “bring people together from different walks of life and different points of view.”

Dave and Carolyn Hinderliter moved to Georgia from what was once solidly Republican Kansas. They now have homes on Jekyll Island and in Dawson County.

“To have somebody to get behind with your same priorities is wonderful,” Carolyn Hinderliter said.

She is a former teacher and worked in adult literacy, and he was in sales for Proctor and Gamble and he also helped write Dawson County’s tree ordinance.

Both said that the Republican party they knew is gone and that the current GOP has staked out extremely conservative positions. The Hinderliters said Nunn brings moderation to the race.